TheHitchhikers GuideTo The Galaxy

Earth Edition

British Trains

If people say that you should be environmentally friendly and travel using public transport, it's a sure sign they haven't experienced the wonders that are British trains. This entry will try to explain why there are problems with trains in Britain and how to cope when you encounter them.

The Service

Ever since the railways were privatised problems have arisen. Trains are late more often, delays have become more frequent and accidents more common. This is due to several different companies all running on a shared track network. Railtrack is responsible for maintaining the track network and has come under a lot of fire recently due to the increased number of accidents. The track was in a bad state and was on the whole responsible for the numerous accidents. Railtrack set out a repair programme that meant trains followed a restricted speed limit, which caused late, delayed and even cancelled trains. These problems were not entirely under control even a year after the repair programme was announced.

Who Runs the Trains?

The railways were nationalised in 1948 and then were privatised in 1993. Railtrack is responsible for the track maintenance. Before the privatisation all the trains were run by British Rail; they were subsequently divided up between numerous companies:

The Train Operating Companies

Company Name

Area

Anglia Railways

East Anglia

Arriva Trains - Merseyside

Merseyside

Arriva Trains Northern

North England

C2C

London

Central Trains

The Midlands

Chiltern Railway Co

North London

Connex

South East England

First Great Eastern

East Coast

First Great Western

South Wales and Devon

First North Western

Manchester

Gatwick Express

London

GNER

London - Scotland

Hull Trains

East England

Island Line

Isle of Wight

Midland Mainline

The Midlands

ScottRail RAilways

Scotland

Silverlink Train Services

The Midlands - London

South West Trains

South West England

Thameslink Rail

Bedford - South Coast
(Replaced the old 'Bedpan Line')

Thames Trains

Central and South London and Thames Valley

Valley Lines

Bristol and Wales

Virgin Trains

All England

WAGN Railway

East England

Wales and West

Wales and the West Coast

Games to Play on Trains

There are a number of factors to consider when taking a game on the train - it must be:

Easy to pack

Not too long

Easy to play (even on a large, unsteady table)

Easy to pick up quickly

The most suitable games to play are either card games, electronic games or board games1.

What to Pack for a Journey

Packing for the train is always a problem, you must try to anticipate all eventualities2, while at the same time not weighing yourself down with heavy items that are not necessary. This list should help you pack all the necessary items for a simple journey:

An extra jumper in winter or sun cream and a hat in summer

A snack and emergency food

A torch (kept in an outside pocket, so it can be found easily)

Medicines and tablets if they are prescribed

A pair of slip-on shoes

Following this list will hopefully give you the peace of mind that you have packed for any likely happenings. You may of course wish to take additional items such as a camera and film or Walkmans etc.

The Golden Rules

There are two golden rules to remember when travelling on a British train. They are:

Always plan a contingent route, either using the train or an entirely different mode of transport, in case your train is badly delayed or cancelled.

Never lose your temper with the ticket collector or other members of staff. It is not their fault and they cannot help it. Calmly ask for a complaints form at the desk and fill it out. They will then direct your annoyance to the right people who can sort it out.

Trivia Train Fact

The Intercity service from Bedford to St Pancras London used to be affectionately known as the 'Bedpan Line'

1As long as they do not have too many small pieces and are not to bulky. Travel board games are now available, which are perfect for train journeys.2A hurricane, the train breaking down in the middle of Wales etc.

Edited by

References

External Links

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a wholly remarkable book. It has been compiled and recompiled many times and under many different editorships. It contains contributions from countless numbers of travellers and researchers."